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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> Someone Help Me!!
        
(Message started by: Phillygoat on May 22^nd, 2003, 12:05pm)

Title: Someone Help Me!!
Post by Phillygoat on May 22^nd, 2003, 12:05pm

Ok, here is my story. I'm just 18 years old and in the past haven't had very many headaches at all. That was until last Friday. At first I thought it was sinus pressure built up in my head but nothing I was taking worked. Then I realized that there was a pattern and they would come at the same time and last the same length. Soon they were becoming so violent and painful that I called the doctor. They could not tell me much but to take painkillers and that might be clusterheadachs. So I'm thinkin what the heck are clusterheadaches, but the doctor coulden't tell me anything about them. ( goes to show you how much they know.) So I started searching the web and that's why I'm here.
It was such a comfort to find you but it was also a discomfort to realize my symptoms were parallel with other people and it is something you have to live with. I took the quiz and did not miss one question! Here is a what I'm feeling in a little more detail:
I am only getting one attack per day always on the right side behind my eye. They come about 11:30a.m. and wont last until 12:30p.m. I'm always felling it, but dose not always hurt as bad. It seems to let me know before it gets bad and will die down just as fast as it started. Another thing is I remember last year at about the same time having the same feeling but not near as bad.
All this is overwhelming me and kind of scary. The doctor says he will be able to see me in three weeks. ARE YOU KIDDING ME, I CANT WAIT THREE WEEKS, THEY HURT SO BAD. This is all new and overwhelming for me. I don't know what to do. Am I to young to be having these?
Dose this sound like clusterheadaches and if so what is the first thing I need to do????

Title: Re: Someone Help Me!!
Post by stuey on May 22^nd, 2003, 12:20pm

I am so sorry you gotta be here too. You sound like you are having cluster headaches definitely. For a doctor who has suggested to you that you may be having cluster attacks to then say you can be seen in 3 weeks is outrageous since I assume the doctor is aware you are in incredible pain. Is this an internist/general practitioner? Can your folks get involved and take you to another doctor, preferably a neuorologist? I myself would go to an emergency room and at least be seen by someone if I thought an attack was coming who can then refer you to a neurologist in hopefully less time than 3 weeks. I'm not the expert but you definitely need to see another doctor. Anyone else who is reading this, if I am giving bad advice please correct me cause this young man needs help. There are definitely things that can be done to help you and the RIGHT doctor would find a way to see you before three weeks if he or she felt you might be having cluster headaches. Stu

Title: Re: Someone Help Me!!
Post by echo on May 22^nd, 2003, 12:23pm

To improve the wait time to see your doc ask to be put on the cancelation list. Is this a doc or a neuro you are going to see?

Sorry you are hurting and needed to search for a site such as this. Glad you found us.

Suggestion: Start keeping a journal pertaining to your headaches, their time frame, pain level (KIP Scale) what you ate or drank prior to the attack. This will help your doctor once you get to see him.

Title: Re: Someone Help Me!!
Post by Roxy on May 22^nd, 2003, 12:29pm

Sorry you are hurting, and that you have to wait. Before you go to the doctor, get prepared. Read this site too, along with all the meds information.

http://www.maplefallswebdesign.com/misc/oxygen/oxygen.htm

Good luck, and I hope you can get in earlier.

Tracey

Title: Re: Someone Help Me!!
Post by Jackie on May 22^nd, 2003, 12:35pm

It always saddens me to read a post like yours...DAMN!!!

I would suggest that you take the cluster quiz (button on the left) when you feel up to it. Also, learn as much as you can so you're ready for the doctors appointment. I know this sounds like a tall order when you're in pain....maybe you could read a little at a time. There are some "home remedies" that might give you some relief. You might try ice, hot packs, strenuous exercise at onset, hot or cold showers, cold air blowing in your face (like from the auto A/C), strong hot coffee. Everyone is different but some of these do help...it's a trial and error thing.

Good Luck...keep in touch.

Jacks 8)

Title: Re: Someone Help Me!!
Post by CJohnson on May 22^nd, 2003, 1:09pm

Possible ways to see a doctor sooner if you have medical insurance. Make sure you have your insurance card with you. You also may want to take the day off.

1. Go to your providers website and look up all of the neurologists in your area who participate with your plan. Call each of them and tell them you need to see a neurologist today. There is a chance someone will be able to see you.

2. If your provider does not have a website, look up all of the neurologists in your area phone book and call each of them to find out if they take your insurance. Keep calling until you find one that takes your insurance and can see you today.

3. If 1 & 2 fail accept the earliest possible appointment for a neuro and go through 1 or 2 for General Practice doctors.

If you do not have insurance, try some of the methods you can find on this site for obtaining relief without medications.

PFDANs
-Curtis

Title: Re: Someone Help Me!!
Post by cathy on May 22^nd, 2003, 1:11pm

Hi Phillygoat....sorry your going through this at such a young age....get the clusterheadaches diagnosed by a neurologist and no you cannot wait 3 weeks! Print off the info that's here and take it to your doctor. Wish you didn't have to be here but welcome to you none the less.

Wishing you PF times...keep us posted as to how you get on.

Cathy :)

Title: Re: Someone Help Me!!
Post by Bob_Johnson on May 22^nd, 2003, 3:03pm

Agree with Cathy: if you decide to go to the ER or a doctor who is not a specialist in headache, first print out some of the MEDICAL material (button on the left of this page) and give to the doctor. You are likely to get a better response if you use material which speaks their language.

Title: Re: Someone Help Me!!
Post by cootie on May 22^nd, 2003, 3:13pm

Hi Phillygoat and the best of luck to you in your new CH adventure....now you gotta play the waiting game.....sorry ! Last time I called to get Brad into a nero they said there wasd a 3 month waiting list....huh ? His nero he fineally got diagnosed by years ago will not see patients quick unless they visit him regualr so many times a year......no space inbetween which sucks !!! Hope you get PF soon........Pam the waiting game hater

Title: Re: Someone Help Me!!
Post by Callico_Kid on May 22^nd, 2003, 3:33pm

Hi and welcome aboard! Glad you were able to get a diagnosis so quickly and then to find us. The advice above is right on the money. In particular I would suggest the oxygen website and since you can't get a doc any sooner to get a scrip for O2 next time you are getting hit visit a fire station or EMT and ask to use their oxygen. You might want to take a print out of some of the info in case they are not aware of the benefits of O2 for HAs. Read all you have the time for and don't hesitate to ask questions. There are a lot of knowlegeable and CARING people on this board who will help you.

jc

Title: Re: Someone Help Me!!
Post by OneEyeBlind on May 22^nd, 2003, 5:16pm

I actually went to my doctors office when I got hit .... and rocked in the waiting room, crying .... she saw me. Now of course that was my regular GP ... but she did get me a pretty quick appointment for a neuro. She also perscribed Imitrex injections (after a few other tries on pain killers, etc) for me until I saw the neuro. They are a Godsend for me !!! I was scared to do the shot the first time, but the epipen makes it easy and the relief is FAST !!!

Good luck ... and try whatever you have to !!!!!!!!! You have been given some great suggestions so far !!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Someone Help Me!!
Post by Mark C on May 22^nd, 2003, 7:44pm

Welcome to the nuthouse PG,
Grab an oar and start rowing. Sorry you need us but glad you found us.

I was mis-diagnosed for so long by the time they got it right it could have been a brain tumor....I remember thinking at least a name can be put on it.

Hopefully you are an episodic and will get a break sometimes. This place has made me grateful for being episodic and not chronic....God Bless Em!

Click here (http://www.headaches.org/consumer/educationalmodules/migraine_module/headache_diary.pdf) for a headache diary to help track the beast. Use it.

I will also attach a favorite link from the OUCH site here. (http://www.clusterheadaches.org/library/general/index.htm)

PFDAN's
Mark

Title: Re: Someone Help Me!!
Post by Charlie on May 22^nd, 2003, 8:50pm

Welcome aboard and sorry you have to deal with this horror. Perhaps if you download a few things here and bug your doctor every day, you might get a break. It's all I can think of.

Keep posting and good luck.

Charlie

Title: Re: Someone Help Me!!
Post by Mastifflvr28 on May 22^nd, 2003, 9:18pm

welcome to the board phillygoat, sorry you gotta be here.
18 is not too young...I started at 16...and they were only a few days long...back then.
Read read read kiddo, you'll be able to teach your doc. Good luck,
take care,
Mast

Title: Re: Someone Help Me!!
Post by Phillygoat on May 22^nd, 2003, 9:26pm

So I just got back from the doctor today after I just walked in and said I could not wait three weeks like they had scheduled me for. So this doctor came in, I told him what was going on, and he looked me over. He said that it was a sinus problem because my throat was swollen and my ear was red on the same side. I told him it wasn’t sinus pressure because it hurt so badly. I told him I think it CH because of the pain and because they happen the same time each day and year. Then he told me CLUSTERHEADACHES ARE NOT CONSISTANT AND HAPPEN AT RANDOM TIMES OF THE DAY AND YEAR. Is this guy on something or am I? So he gave me antibiotics and nasal spray and said that a lot of people are getting this right now and although it may be these headaches to not think the worst. Then he left not giving me anything for my pain. What’s going on? No one seems to know what I really have and I’m still getting headaches.

Title: Re: Someone Help Me!!
Post by don on May 22^nd, 2003, 9:49pm

Did you take the cluster quiz ? What was the result?

Never mind. just reread your post.

Quote:

They could not tell me much but to take painkillers and that might be clusterheadachs. So I'm thinkin what the heck are clusterheadaches, but the doctor coulden't tell me anything about them. ( goes to show you how much they know.

Trust me, for a doc to even suggest CH means they are lightyears ahead of when i first strated seeing Docs. You need to get to a good neuro. Not all neuros are up on CH. Some are willing to learn some already know. If the neuro you get to doesn't fall in either one of these categories, drop him and seek out another.

The pain will not kill you in the interum. Use ice packs or heat. Try vigirous excercise. Unfortunately a newly diagnosed clusterhead needs to learn how to manage pain. It's unavoidable. Walk it off, try breathing in deeply in front of an air conditioner. Go to your nearest fire station and ask for O2. Go to the ER if neccesary, they are legally and ethically obligated to treat your pain.